The Role of Food in Your Health Journey
When I first set out in search of lifestyle interventions that could change the course of my autoimmune thyroid condition, I came across a promising Italian study.
This researcher followed people who had subclinical hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s and Celiac disease, as they embarked on starting a gluten-free diet.
The study found that when most of the people with subclinical hypothyroidism were placed on a gluten-free diet, their thyroid function normalized! In 71% of people who strictly followed a 1-year gluten withdrawal (as confirmed by intestinal mucosa recovery), there was a normalization of subclinical hypothyroidism. Another 19% of people who followed the gluten-free diet were able to normalize their thyroid antibodies. “In distinct cases, gluten withdrawal may single-handedly reverse the abnormality,” the researchers concluded.
Various studies have looked at the rates of Celiac disease in people with Hashimoto’s. All of the studies have found Celiac disease to me more common with Hashimoto’s, but the incidence rates have varied. While a 2006 Brazilian study found an incidence rate of Celiac disease at only 1.2% of people with Hashimoto’s, a 2007 Dutch study found that 15% of Dutch people with Hashimoto’s had Celiac disease.
I took these studies to my endocrinologist who reluctantly glanced over them, and told me that I shouldn’t worry about gluten, that I just needed to take Synthroid or Levoxyl and that was the end of the story to the treatment of Hashimoto’s. I was also told that my dose would continue increasing as my thyroid continued to burn itself out and that I would need to be tested for additional autoimmune disease now and then, as having one autoimmune disease put me at greater risk for having additional ones.
I ended up finding another doctor on my insurance who was willing to test me for celiac disease, but to my relief (and disappointment), I was negative. Discouraged, I didn’t attempt the gluten free diet until a little over a year later when I saw my first integrative/functional medicine doctor, who tested me for food sensitivities. Functional medicine doctors are often not covered by insurance, and it took me a long time to understand that I needed to invest in myself, that I was worth it. I paid for the consult out of pocket. It was a Christmas/New Year’s gift to myself, and the equivalent of 10 of my usual shopping trips. Giving up my shopping budget was difficult for me, as I was quite the shopping addict. Shopping kept me distracted from the feelings of sadness, fatigue, acid reflux, pain in my arms, IBS, hair loss and panic attacks. I compromised and decided to shop at second-hand stores.
The rest my friends is history. After a three-day avoidance of the reactive foods (gluten and dairy being my top triggers), my acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome and lifelong stomach pains went away within 3 days. The pain in my arms went away after a few weeks. Figuring out that I had food sensitivities was my first step into the world of natural health- and healing- and I haven’t looked back ever since.
Since that time, I’ve learned that there’s much more than Celiac disease to the gluten-thyroid connection… a 2002 study in the journal of European Endocrinology found that 43% of people with Hashimoto’s showed activated mucosal T cell immunity, which is usually correlated with gluten-dependent enteropathy, or gluten sensitivity.
I’ve received numerous success stories from people who felt better gluten-free, and some have been able to get into remission from Hashimoto’s by going gluten free. In surveying my readers and clients, I’ve found that about 93% feel better on a gluten-free diet.
I also learned that it’s not just gluten that can be a triggering food for Hashimoto’s! The most common food sensitivities are going to be to gluten, dairy (this was my biggest one), soy, grains (especially corn), nightshades (like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers), nuts and seeds.
Furthermore, another 75% of my clients and readers reported feeling better on a dairy free diet, 73% reported feeling better grain free, and another 60% or so said they felt better soy free. Egg and nightshade free diets were helpful 40% and 35% of the time, respectively.
Role of Food Sensitivities in Hashimoto’s
The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections.
Food sensitivities are different than food allergies. Food allergies are generated by the IgE branch of the immune system and are going to be immediate, occurring within minutes after eating a reactive food. The person may present with anaphylaxis; hives, facial swelling, difficulty breathing; this type of reaction can be life threatening. Shellfish and nuts are the most commonly implicated foods.
Food sensitivities, on the other hand, are going to be governed by different branches of the immune system, IgA, IgM and IgG have been implicated, but the IgG branch has been the most interesting to me. This is because the IgG branch is also thought to be responsible for creating thyroid antibodies in many cases of Hashimoto’s. These reactions may take as long as hours or even a few days to manifest and may manifest as acid reflux, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, palpitations, joint pain, anxiety, tingling or headaches.
I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.
Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.
Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!
Others may need to dig deeper, looking at infections, toxins, and stress, but getting off reactiveA foods almost always helps the healing process. For example, if a leaky gut is caused by a gut infection such as a parasite, to heal the gut, we not only have to get rid of the infection, but we also need to stay off the reactive foods for at least 3-6 months. Thus, I always recommend starting with food.
Testing for Food Sensitivities
When I was working as a pharmacist, we were always on the look-out for “true, IgE-related, allergies” to foods and medications. These were the life-threatening reactions that could cause anaphylaxis! While I learned about reactions mediated by the other immune branches in Immunology during my first year in pharmacy school, somehow, calling the IgE-related reactions as “true” led me to believe that the other types of reactions didn’t matter. Unfortunately, most conventional medical professionals and insurance companies hold that same misconception, and food sensitivity tests are considered “experimental.” This was, of course, fine with me, as when I “experimented” with removing the foods the tests found to be reactive for me, I felt dramatically better!
The other challenge with food sensitivities is that when we eat the foods that our body is sensitive to on a daily basis, it is very difficult to connect the foods with the symptoms we are having. For example, people who have a dairy sensitivity but continue to eat dairy multiple times a day might be tired, have joint pain, congestion, bloating and acid reflux on a daily basis, but won’t be able to pinpoint the symptom to the foods. I was personally a bread and dairy addict and had no idea that they were causing me issues.
This is because every time we eat this food, the body becomes depleted in its ability to protect itself from the antigenic food, and the reactions become less specific and more chronic. If the food continues to be given, the body will become sensitive to more and more things.
However, once the sensitizing food is eliminated for a few days to a few weeks, the person should feel better and experience less bloating, less reflux, normal bowel movements, more energy, etc.
When the person is exposed to the food again, the body will produce a stronger, more specific reaction, allowing the person to recognize which particular food is problematic to him/her. This is known as an Elimination Diet and is the gold standard for food sensitivity testing. My friend and go-to Nutritionist Tom Malterre just wrote an amazing book on the Elimination Diet, to help walk you through the process.
My Recommended Food Sensitivity Test
I thought about eliminating gluten and dairy for over a year before I took the plunge. I ate a whey protein/yogurt shake for breakfast, tuna melt bagels for lunch and loved snacking on crackers, bread, cookies, donuts, and cottage cheese at every chance I got. I was an avid baker and always attacked the bread basket at restaurants. I loved fruit but was not a big fan of meat, or vegetables.
I didn’t know how I could possibly go gluten and dairy free. Besides fruit, what was I going to eat?
It took seeing my test results in black and white to make the change, and all of a sudden, something shifted in me. I went out to an all-you-can-eat big Polish buffet with Pierogi (made from dough and farmer’s cheese), kopytka (dumplings), kotlety (breaded pork tenderloins) and a smorgasbord of cookies and cakes and said my goodbyes to the foods I had grown up with. And then I started the gluten-free dairy-free diet the next day. Acid reflux was my biggest, most noticeable symptoms that had been with me daily, multiple times a day for over 3 years, starting in January of 2008. I eliminated my reactive foods in February 2011, and I haven’t had acid reflux since that day unless I accidentally ate one my reactive foods.
Here’s my Hashimoto’s and Acid Reflux Story
My test results showed that I was sensitive to both gluten and dairy. But I wasn’t reactive to just the usual suspects, of “gluten, dairy, soy…” I also had strange reactions to pineapples, peaches and began avoiding those as well, noticing that they too, triggered my acid reflux.
There is a multitude of food sensitivity tests out there, and none of them are perfect. Some may have false negatives; others may have false positives or a combination of both.
The test that I found to be very highly accurate for myself and my clients is the Alletess Lab food sensitivity test. If a food comes up positive on that test, I know that it is a reactive food for that person. In some cases, especially if the person has been off the foods for some time, this test may have false negatives, so in the case that people come up negative for one of the big reactive foods, I recommend trying to go off it, and introducing it. Again, the gold standard, most accurate test for food sensitivities is going to be an elimination diet, but if you are someone that is not quite ready to do one, or needs to see things in black and white, you may want to look into food sensitivity testing.
Alletess Lab works primarily through integrative and functional medicine physicians, so if you’re working with a doctor like that, you can ask him/her to order the test for you. I’m also really excited to let you know that I’ve worked with MyMedLab to offer the food sensitivity testing for people to self-order, without a doctor’s prescription. The test kit comes with a little blood spot collection paper, and can be mailed to just about anywhere in the world!
MyMedLab offers two options to test for the most commonly eaten foods.
I started with the 96 food panel; it was enough to uncover most of my food triggers, and now repeat the 184 food panel on an annual basis to be sure that I’m staying on top of potential triggers, as our sensitivities and reactions to foods can change with time.
The lab will also send me trends (i.e. most reactive foods) for people with Hashimoto’s that get the tests so that I’ll be able to share this info with you in future newsletters. This way people who can afford the testing can help those that may not be able to afford it at this time.
Hope this information helps you on your journey!
PS. You can also download a free Thyroid Diet Guide, 10 Thyroid friendly recipes, and the Nutrient Depletions and Digestion chapter by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You will also receive occasional updates about new research, resources, giveaways and helpful information.
For future updates, make sure to follow us on Facebook!
References
- Hadithi, M (03/21/2007). “Coeliac disease in Dutch patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and vice versa.” World journal of gastroenterology: WJG (1007-9327), 13 (11), 1715.
- Velentino, R, et.al. Markers of Potential Coeliac disease in patients with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. European Journal of Endocrinology (2002) 146; 479-483
- Sategna-Guidetti C, et.al. Prevalence of thyroid disorders in untreated adult celiac disease patients and effect of gluten withdrawal: an Italian multicenter study. Am J Gastroenterology; 2001, Mar; 96(3):751-756
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Nancy- Thank you so much for letting me know, I will look into it. Here is some information in the meanwhile that you may find interesting! 🙂
The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.
It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing.
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Debra- Fatigue was the most debilitating symptom I experienced with Hashimoto’s. It actually started 8 years before I was finally diagnosed in 2009, after I got Mono (Epstein-Barr Virus) in college. I needed to sleep for 12 hours each night to be able to function, and by “function” I mean after hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock for two hours (ask my poor husband), I would drag myself out of bed and then had to drink 4-6 cups of caffeine everyday to keep myself awake. I often had Red Bull and Pepsi for breakfast, and was the epitome of “wired but tired”. I hope my articles help you get started 🙂
OVERCOMING THYROID FATIGUE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-10-tips-for-overcoming-hashimotos-fatigue
THIAMINE AND THYROID FATIGUE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/thiamine-and-thyroid-fatigue
Joan- Thank you so much for following this page! Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
Angela- Here is an article you may find interesting! : )
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Suzanne- Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful. 🙂
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
Lynnette- Thank you so much for following this page! I personally struggled with pain in the form of body aches and stiffness as well as carpal tunnel in both arms in 2010, when I was first diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. It was awful, I had to wear braces on both arms all day and even at night for about 6 months.
I took NSAIDs every day to deal with the pain so I could get through my workday.
I hope these articles help you get started.
PAIN AND HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-and-hashimotos
PAIN HASHIMOTOS AND FIBROMYALGIA…
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pain-hashimotos-and-fibromyalgia/
TURMERIC FOR YOUR THYROID AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/turmeric-for-your-thyroid-and-hashimotos
Theresa- Thank you so much for following this page! Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Irma- Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Mindi- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.
It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Hazel- Thank you for letting me know!! Here is an article in the mean time that you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Jackie- Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful!! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
CANDIDA AND HASHIMOTOS CONNECTION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/candida-and-hashimotos-connection
HASHIMOTO’S AND THE GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hashimotos-and-the-gut
THE GUT AND AUTOIMMUNE THYROID CONNECTION
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-gut-and-autoimmune-thyroid-connection
Had Hashi for 7 years and taking levothyroxin, started with functional med doctor who actually tested my T3 and RT3 (yeah!) and found T3 was low, RT3 was high. Started Armour and got soooooo sick for 3 weeks until I stopped (severe diarrhea, stomach ache). Only diet I could tolerate was similar to Jackie’s (chicken, rice, legumes, cooked veggies). Been off of Armour several weeks, but still cannot eat eggs or pork, and figuring out more sensitivities every week now…including avocados, nuts, hamburger. I’m way underweight, running out of foods, and don’t get what’s going on. Really wanting to know anyone else who has experienced this, how often it happens with Armour, do you just outgrow the sensitivities. I’m about down to adding oils to every meal for fats. Been largely off gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, caffeine for 4 months. Never food sensitivities until Armour. Contact me if you have dealt with this and can help: matey_me@yahoo.com.
Michelle – thank you for reaching out. If you keep losing foods there’s likely to be another underlying issue. I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s a whole medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://ifm.org/find-a-practitioner/
6 MOST IMPORTANT NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES IN HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-important-nutrient-deficiencies-hashimotos/
6 DIFFERENT ROOT CAUSES
http://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/6-different-hashimotos-root-causes
THE MANY TRIGGERS OF HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-many-triggers-of-hashimotos
INFECTIONS AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/infections-and-hashimotos
No wonder that you have flare ups ! As in the above comments, stay away from all the food sensitivities (and in particular gluten). You need to take “pure” hormones not “glandulars”. Can you find a good doctor who understands what Hashimoto means ?
Cristina- Do you have Hashimoto’s or a thyroid condition?
Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Sue- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Lynn- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Karen- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Thank you for the info. I’m not sure what “pure” thyroid hormones are. Can you elaborate on them so I can talk to my doctor about it or start looking for a new doctor.
Thanks!
Jackie- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Sue- Hair loss is a distressing symptom experienced by women with Hashimoto’s. For women, our hair represents our femininity, and losing our hair is a constant reminder that something is off and that we are not well. Have you read these articles?
HASHIMOTO’S AND GETTING YOUR HAIR BACK
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/hashimotos-and-getting-your-hair-back
HAIR LOSS AND YOUR THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/hair-loss-and-thyroid
Lynn- Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful.
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
It was so clearly written and has helped me to understand exactly how/why I’m feeling the way I do right now.
Can’t wait to get your book Root Cause and Elimination Diet too!
I enjoy your articles!
Tammy- Thank you so much for your support. I’m looking forward to hearing your progress on this page. Make sure to take the book slow, take notes, highlight, and establish a baseline when making changes. 🙂
Patricia- I look forward to hearing your progress on this page! 🙂
Jeanie- Thank you so much for sharing! Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful. 🙂
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
Jan- In the United States and many European countries that add iodine to salt or other foods, Hashimoto’s is the leading cause of hypothyroidism, and not iodine deficiency. While the average American may consume between 6 and 10 grams of salt per day, largely due to processed foods, it is difficult to estimate the amount of iodine that is contained in the Standard American Diet, due to uncertainty of whether the prepared food was made with iodized salt or non-iodized salt. Hashimoto’s is a complicated condition with many layers that need to be unraveled. While conventional medicine only looks at each body system as a separate category, and is only concerned with the thyroid’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, Hashimoto’s is more than just hypothyroidism. I wanted to pass along these articles that I wrote. I hope they help 🙂
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/
OVERCOMING HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/overcoming-hashimotos-in-the-new-year/
Donna- Most thyroid conditions result from the immune system attacking the thyroid because the immune system is out of balance. Even when the thyroid is taken out surgically, is ‘dead’, or treated with radioactive iodine the autoimmunity still persists in most cases. Many people will have their thyroids removed, and will develop new autoimmune disorders such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The immune system just finds a different target. We need to re-balance the immune system to prevent this (sometimes the autoimmunity can be reversed as well). The gut determines your immune system. With the exception of discussing proper thyroid medication dosing, the majority of my website and my book focuses on balancing the immune system. The info I present is based on my own research and journey for overcoming my autoimmune thyroid condition.
HASHIMOTO’S ROOT CAUSE BOOK
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Alice- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.
It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Ernestine- Here are a couple of articles you may find interesting! 🙂
DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy
GOING DAIRY FREE TO REVERSE HASHIMOTOS
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/going-dairy-free-to-reverse-hashimotos
Lynn- Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Teresa- Thank you so much for sharing! Here is an article you may find interesting as well! 🙂
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
Renee- Here are a couple of articles about diet that you may find interesting or helpful.
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
Sue- Thank you so much for sharing! You may find this article interesting! 🙂
WHY THYROID PATIENTS NEED CHANGE
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/why-thyroid-patients-need-change
Catherine- Thank you so much for your support! Here is some information you may find interesting.
Three things MUST be present in order for autoimmunity to occur…
1. Genetic predisposition
2. Environmental triggers
3. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
Developing autoimmunity is like a three-legged stool, all of these factors must be present for autoimmunity to occur! When you remove one of these, you can prevent or stop autoimmune disease. While we can’t change genes, if we know the trigger, we can remove it and we can heal the gut.
REVERSING AUTOIMMUNITY AND THE PERFECT STORM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/reversing-autoimmunity-and-the-perfect-storm/
IS HASHIMOTO’S HYPOTHYROIDISM GENETIC
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/is-hashimotos-genetic
Weak Positive, Celiac diagnoses questionable. IgA, Serum – 357 (70-310 is normal) Gliadin Ab, IgA 22 (0-19 is normal) TTG Ab, IgA 5 (0-19) TTG Ab, IgG 4 (0-19)
Katrina- The gold standard, or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the Elimination Diet.
It works better than trying a recommended dietary approach (i.e. gluten-free, Paleo, etc.) and even better than food sensitivity testing (which may be helpful in many cases, but may not be affordable for many people). The elimination diet can work as a stand-alone or in symphony with food sensitivity testing. Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Erin- Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people, will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.
GUT, BRAIN, AND AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS: THE ROLE OF FOOD
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/gut-brain-and-autoimmune-disorders
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
Karen- There are quite a few options for thyroid medications. In my experience, what works for one person may not work for another. If your doctor will not prescribe the medication you are looking for, ask your local pharmacist for doctors in your area who prescribe the medication you are looking to try. Have you read these articles?
WHICH THYROID MEDICATION IS BEST?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/which-thyroid-medication-is-best/
TOP 11 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THYROID MEDICATIONS
https://thyroidphramacist.com/blog/top-11-things-you-need-to-know-about-thyroid-medications
Cheryl- Thank you so much for sharing! Here is an article you may find interesting! 🙂
MTHFR
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/mthfr-hashimotos-and-nutrients
Dear Izabella!
I’m thinking about to make a food sensitivity test. I live in the UK. Which test do you recommend for me?
I’m on paleo diet for more than a year, and on AIP for 10 months. But I feel that something not good for me…
Thanks for your help!
Anna
Anna – thank you for following this page and your support.
Here a links to the Food Sensitivity tests I recommend:
184 Food Panel
https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/184-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx
96 Food Panel
https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/96-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx
You may also be interested in this article:
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Have you read my book, Hashimoto’s The Root Cause? Here’s the link in case you’re interested.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0615825796?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0615825796&linkCode=xm2&tag=thyroipharma-20
Dear Izabella!
Thank you for your help and your quick answer!
I have already ordered your book. It’s arrived today!:) I can’t wait to read about your amaizing researches! I really would like to understand what is my root cause…
I’ve seen these two tests in your article as well, but I thought they are not available in the UK. Now I see they are!:) Thanks for your recommendation!
I have already written that I’m on paleo and now on strict AIP for a while (10 months). I think the AIP lifestyle does not give complete solution to my problems. My anti-TPO is still high and I do not tolerate ‘good foods’ since I’m on this diet. Of course it has many benefits and positive effects on my life as well.
What do you think? Should I reintroduce the avoided foods before I make the food sensitivity test? How should I do it? How long time/How many times should I eat these foods before make the test to get right results?
I would choose the 184 food panel test. I don’t want to eat gluten or soy… I know the life is better without these, but I’m curious if I have food intolerance to diary, seeds and other gluten free grains (oat, rice…) that I may reintroduce one day after the strict AIP…
I would be grateful for your thoughts and advice!
Anna
Dear Dr.Wentz, I don’t know if you’ve already received this question, but I wanted to ask you:
If going gluten free can lead you to reduce the dose of levothyroxine, how much time is it necessary for this to happen? You write about a 3 month period of “trial”. Is it enough? Can the need for less hormone replacement occur earlier than that? And, more importantly, is it gradual or does it happen all of a sudden?
Alberto – please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions.
I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR SHOULD YOU SEE IF YOU HAVE HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/what-type-of-doctor-should-you-see-if-you-have-hashimotos
10 THINGS I WISH MY ENDOCRINOLOGIST WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-things-i-wish-my-endocrinologist-would-have-told-me
CLINICIAN DATABASE
http://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
FIND A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CLINICIAN
https://www.functionalmedicine.org/practitioner_search.aspx?id=117
Hi Dr Izabella,
Thank you so much for your amazing hard work with regards to all things thyroid!
I haven’t been diagnosed with a thyroid condition but I am well aware that my thyroid is very unhappy:(
I believe I may have a dairy sensitivity and I’m going to give up dairy to find out. I have two questions: will I eventually be able to eat dairy again, once my gut has healed? And, can I eat butter? I know butter is dairy but it is included in the Paleo diet, which excludes all other dairy.
Thank you again.
Tamsyn
Tamsyn- You may find this article interesting! 🙂
ELIMINATION DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
Thank you very much for such an interesting article, Isabella!
I have had a blood allergy test done and apparently am allergic to hazelnuts and birch pollen, with a cross allergy to apples, pears, cherries, walnuts, carrots and cinnamon (although I have never noticed any of these).
I am vegan and gluten-free, and after this I am now really desperate. What is there left to eat? I eat apples daily and cannot imagine living without them, but will if I have to. But I am breastfeeding and burn a lot of calories…I just feel very limited now with what I can still eat. Does this allergy mean I should avoid those (I have hay fever, so I guess my mucosas do react), or not necessarily?
Oops, sorry for spelling your name wrong, Izabella!
Dagmar – thank you for following this page. Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. Through my research I’ve found that a good percentage feel better off gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/
I have been tested for foodsensitivities. I have a whole list nut gluten is not on that list. Can i relay in that list or is it still possible that gluten is a problemen for my thyroidproblems?
(Since I eat according to that list I have no stomacproblems or diarree. But it is not going Well with my thyroid, muscles and anxiety. It got worce after my best griend dyed)
Ingrid – thank you for following this page.
It depends on the person and their individualized food sensitivities. Some people go into remission just gluten free; others may have to go as far as autoimmune Paleo. The most common triggers in Hashimoto’s are nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), stress, an impaired ability to get rid of toxins and in some cases, infections. Optimizing your health starts with food. Figuring out which foods nourish you, and which ones cause you harm is the single most important thing you can learn in your health journey.
I’ve found that recognizing and eliminating reactive foods can be a life-changer for most people with Hashimoto’s.
Reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten.
Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function!
BEST DIET FOR HASHIMOTO’S AND HYPOTHYROIDISM
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/best-diet-for-hashimotos-hypothyroidism
TAILORING YOUR THYROID DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/tailoring-your-thyroid-diet-to-your-needs
DAIRY AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/got-hashimotos-you-may-want-to-reconsider-dairy
I’m half way through reading the Root Cause and also purchased Hashimoto’s Protocol, which I haven’t begun yet. I began Paleo diet about 3 weeks ago. I received results of my 96 Food Panel today, which lists sensitivity to foods that I’ve been eating while on Paleo diet (spinach, green peas, and pepper). I’ll remove those food now. Can I add other foods that ARE listed on the Paleo and AIPaleo back to my diet if sensitivity test showed no reactivity? For example, I tested 0 for gluten, 0 for rice, 0 for soybeans. OR should I still stay away from gluten, soy, rice? From Root Cause book, there are recommendations to steer away from gluton.
Rowena – thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions.
Going gluten free is always the first step that I recommend. Through my research, I’ve found that a good percentage feel better off gluten. About 20% will actually go into remission by doing so. Some researchers have found that three to six months on a gluten-free diet can eliminate organ-specific antibodies.
10 MOST HELPFUL DIY INTERVENTIONS FOR HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/10-most-helpful-diy-interventions-for-hashimotosaccording-to-my-clients
TOP 9 TAKEAWAYS FROM 2232 PEOPLE WITH HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/top-9-takeaways-from-2232-people-with-hashimotos/
Dear Dr.Wentz, We know that a gluten sensitive person that goes gluten free for at least a couple of weeks and then tries a “challenge” of gluten reintroduction will likely experience symptoms he didn’t have before, like pain or bloating. I wanted to ask you, if someone keeps eating gluten beyond that moment, will those symptoms be likely to persist or will they disappear over time? I ask this as a general consideration
Ombretta – thank you for following this page. In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot to give up, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals.
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky
Hi, Dr Izabella. I have read on a multiple occasions that butter actually is O.K. to consume going dairy free diet since it is mostly fat and does not cause intolerance particularly if consumed in small amounts.
I am quite severely sick for almost four years, recently developed immediate reactions to food sensitivities. Am gluten, grain, dairy free. Found to be sensitive to nightshades, celery, pineapple, bananas, seeds and nuts too (I am sure i missed something). I go itchy or tingly straight away after consuming those. However butter does not cause reaction, at least immediate. Still having fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, muscle issues etc. So my question is: should I totally avoid butter? Very little of food is left that satisfies me. Anyway…
Thank you so much for your work and your enthusiasm you share with others, I wish I back to my normal self too.
By the way, my TSH recently was 1.06mlU/L, two years ago 0.74 mlU/L. My GP says my thyroid is okey.
Thanks again, Ruta, Ireland
Ruta – thank you for reaching out! In general, most people with autoimmunity need to find their food sensitivities, heal from infections, and eat organic; however, bioindividuality is important, because not everyone will respond to the same interventions. The foods that heal one person, may not be the same for another. It might seem like a lot, but feeling your symptoms fade away can make it feel like it’s all worthwhile. And don’t forget it’s not forever! You will be reintroducing these foods once your gut heals. Here is a link that might help:
WHAT’S CAUSING YOUR LEAKY GUT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/whats-causing-your-leaky
Hi Izabella, thank you for the books and the information in General! You are doing a very important thing to the people.
I am 37 years old and I have a Hashimoto. I am eating healthy (thank to my parents), I felt good and didn’t take my sickness seriously. Now I decided to help my body and so I am going to start gluten free (before I was just dairy free, no junk food, separate meals no carbs and protein in one meal). I have got both your books and I am reading it now. I want to make food allergies test due to realize I can have some weird allergen like pineapple or banana or etc. Do you recommend to pass that test in those labs only? And how to be with the kids meals? I try to buy organic products, I am cooking at home, but still some milk products and pastas they asked for…is the buckwheat, oatmeal and quinoa are better then rice, corn and wheat? Thanks!!!
Alena – thank you for reaching out. Did you know that reactive foods trigger an inflammatory response in the GI tract, leading to malabsorption of nutrients (gluten sensitivity, in particular, has been implicated in causing a Selenium deficiency, a well-known risk factor for Hashimoto’s), and can also produce intestinal permeability whenever they are eaten?
Most people will see a dramatic reduction in gut symptoms, brain symptoms, skin breakouts, and pain by eliminating the foods they are sensitive to. Some will also see a significant reduction in thyroid antibodies! An additional subset of people will actually be able to get their Hashimoto’s into complete remission just by getting off the foods they react to, normalizing their thyroid antibodies, and some even normalizing their thyroid function! Here are a couple of articles you may find helpful.
FOOD SENSITIVITIES AND HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/food-sensitivities-and-hashimotos
AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/autoimmune-paleo-diet
Thank you Izabella, I am strongly believe I will be one of these people with your help! How often do you think it’s nessesery to redone the test for good allergy ? Ones a year?
I have an important question before I spend the money on the testing.
How is the MRT food sensitivity test in comparison? I have heard its much more accurate.
I had IgG food sensitivity testing 13 years ago and its taken me a long time to have the money to spend on another test, so before I do so, I need a professional opinion.
I am chronically ill for 14+ years, autoimmune, Hashi, etc, hypothyroid, and always assimilation of nutrient issues, and I firmly believe my gut is the answer to healing,
But I have been on one form of restricted diet or elimination for this entire time and I am sick of it. Just want the test, thanks.
Holly – Thank you for following this page. Please, understand that due to liability issues, I am unable to answer specific medical questions, but I highly recommend that you work with a functional medicine clinician. It’s an entire medical specialty dedicated to finding and treating underlying causes and prevention of serious chronic disease rather than disease symptoms. Here are some links which might help:
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO THE THYROID
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/functional-medicine-approach-to-the-thyroid
CLINICIAN DATABASE
https://www.thyroidpharmacistconsulting.com/clinician-database.html
MY RECENT CHALLENGES AND FINDING DR. RIGHT
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/my-challenges-and-finding-dr-right/
Do you need to be consuming the foods you’re tested for in order to get an accurate answer? If you’ve eliminated certain foods from your diet and haven’t eaten them in quiet some time, the test would show a false negative even if you are indeed reacting to them? If that would be the case, in order to get an accurate picture, would we need to reintroduce ‘suspicious’ foods before testing? I’m talking about different nuts, nightshades etc, but not gluten and dairy and anything we’re sure it causes an immune reaction. Thanks😊
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s a couple years ago and, about 6 months ago, completely eliminated A WHOLE BUNCH of possible trigger foods – gluten, dairy, soy, nightshades. I’ve seen significant improvement in my numbers, but would like to now do the Alletess food sensitivity test. Do I need to reintroduce the foods back into my diet in order for my actual triggers to be detected by the test?
PS – thank you for reaching out. The gold standard or the most accurate test for uncovering reactive foods and individual food sensitivities is actually the elimination diet. In contrast to other diets that simply exclude common problematic foods, an elimination diet is done to determine what particular food intolerances the individual may have. An elimination period of at least 2-3 months is a good starting place, but you may want to continue if you feel that you still have more healing to do. Then you can trial a new food every 4 days and monitor yourself for reactions. Going though an elimination diet will help you figure out your own individual food triggers and your specific response to each trigger food. Here is an article I hope you find interesting!
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/elimination-diet-for-hashimotos
If you choose to do the blood test I recommend that you check with the testing company for instructions. I use and recommend Alletess food sensitivity testing for myself and my clients.
184 Foods – https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/184-food-allergy-igg-alletess-
trx
96 Foods – https://thyroidrx.mymedlab.com/dr-wentz/96-food-allergy-igg-alletess-trx
Good day Izabella . I did IgG 95 Common Food Panel and the result is not bad))) I have Hashimoto and low cortisol. Just wanna clarify the result- there 3 sections- Low, Moderate ,Avoid . The food from Low – eat every day . Moderate – eat ones each 4 days ? That’s correct? Avoid – completely , don’t eat . And , base on this test Candida Screen of Candida Albicans is moderate – 306 my result , reference range – low 380 . My result belongs to moderate 120-380 . Any way, I did anticandida program , but did not have test after this program. So, should I concern about Candida and repeat the anticandida program again if I don’t have any symptoms ? I did this test on January 2017, and program on March-April . Thank you very much in advance .
Irina – thank you for following this page. For questions pertaining to the protocols please contact my team at info@thyroidpharmacist.com and they will be happy to help you.